Apparatus and method for producing a plurality of ply yarns



Oct. 29, 1963 R. J. CLARKSON ETAL 3,103,427

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PLURALITY OF PLY YARNS Filed July 1?, 1959 i s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1963 J, CLARKSQN r 3,108,427

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PLURALITY 0F PLY YARNS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1959 Oct. 29, 1963 R. J. CLARKSON ETAL ,10

APPARATUSANDMETHOD FOR PRODUCINGAPLURALITY OF FLY-YARNS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 17, 1959 1 |l||| ll \ll 5. I I H HH IU IHHH I llllll l III if w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,198,427 APPARATUS AND METHQD FOR PRGDUCING A PLURALKTY 9F PLY YARNS Robert .l. Clarlison and Robert E. Hilton, Winnsboro, 3.6., to United States Rubber Company, New York, Ne-r, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 17, 19%, Ser. No. 827,794 15 Claims. (ill. 57-583) This invention relates to apparatus and method for plying yarns from a multiple end beam into ply yarn and for winding the plied yarns so produced onto a multiple end beam. Novel apparatus and method for handling a plurality of yarns received from yarn forming stations, such as ply yarn forming stations, and for taking up all the plurality of yarns simultaneously on a common take-up form part of this invention.

In Uni-ted States Patent No. 2,503,242 there is disclosed a machine for producing highly uniform, heavy two-ply yarn employed as tire cord. This patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. In co-pending United States application Serial No. 766,492, filed October 10, 1958, now Patent No. 2,986,865, there is disclosed and claimed apparatus for supplying a plurality of yarn plying spindles of the type disclosed in said patent from a single multiple end beam.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for supplying the several spindles of the machine disclosed in the aforesaid patent from a single multiple end hem and for winding the two-ply yarn produced by the several spindles on a common multiple end take-up beam. 2

it is a further object of this invention to provide novel apparatus and method for handling simultaneously a plurality of yarns received from yarn forming stations, such as the ply yarn forming spindles of the aforesaid patent, and for winding said yarns simultaneously on a multiple end take-up beam.

The machine for producing plied yarns shown in the aforesaid patent advances a first yarn past, and rotates it in a balloon about, a supply of a second yarn supported on a rotating spindle, but held against rotation with the spindle, and to a plying point within the spindle. The second yarn from the supply is advanced to the plying point at the same rate of speed as the first yarn, and the two yarns advancing to the plying point are plied into ply yarn thereat. In the apparatus shown in the drawings of said patent each ply yarn so produced is advanced to its own individual take-up where it is wound into a single end ply yarn package. In the aforesaid pending United States patent application, a modification of that apparatus is disclosed and claimed in which the several yarn plying spindles on a frame are supplied from a common multiple end beam.

The preferred embodiment of the instant invention employs a multiple end supply beam for supplying several yarn plying stations. Each yarn is drawn from the beam and is advanced longitudinally of itself at a predetermined rate of speed to its own yarn plying station where it is rotated in a balloon about a supply of a second yarn that is supported on a rotating spindle but held against rotation with the spindle. The yarn from the multiple end beam and the second yarn from the supply at the yarn plying station are both advanced to the yarn plying point within the spindle where the two yarns are plied together by the action of the rotating spindle which rotates the yarn from the supply beam about the spindles arr-1s.

The thus formed ply yarns from a plurality of spindles are drawn from their respective plying points, arranged in a watp-like sheet, and advanced to a common take-up beam where the several yarns are taken up simultaneously.

3,168,427 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 In the embodiment of apparatus disclosed herein for handling the yarns from a plurality of spindles, means are provided for changing the direction of advance of the warp-like sheet as it approaches the take-up means, and additional means are provided to traverse the warplike sheet as the several yarns are taken up.

These and other novel features of the instant invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the apparatus and method, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts removed, of a yarn supply and yarn take-up usable in this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly schematic front elevational view of two yarn plying spindles;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational View of an eyeboard employed in the traverse.

FIG. 2 constitutes a continuation of FIG. 1; the lines A-A of FIG. 1 and of FIG. 2 represent a single plane in space. The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is similar in general to the apparatus fully disclosed in the aforesaid patent and patent application, and will not be described in detail herein beyond such description as may be necessary for an understanding of the operation of the device of the instant invention.

Referring first to FIG. 2, there is shown part of a yarn plying frame including the first two of a great many yarn plying stations which a production frame would carry. "this frame includes an upstanding section plate 10 which carries a main rail 12 of the frame from which upstands the post 11. Post 11 carries at its upper end pigtail rod 13 extending longitudinally of the frame past the several yarn plying spindles. Pigtail rod 13 carries two pigtails 14, 15 for each spindle; the eye of pigtail 14 is positioned to one side of the spindle and its appurtenant structure, and it is above, and to the rear as seen in the drawing, a pigtail 16 carried by main rail 12. The :eye of pigtail 15 is positioned above the center of the yarn plying spindle 17. The main rail 12 carries an electric motor 18 which drives the spindle and appurtenant apparatus.

The several spindles on a single frame are general identical; accordingly like elements of the spindle at the right will carry the same reference characters, with the addition of a prime sign, as the spindle at the left. Unless otherwise stated an element designated by a prime number is identical in structure, and functions identically, with the element indicated by the corresponding unprimed number.

In the production of a plurality of two ply yarns on a single frame, each two ply yarn is produced by advancing a first yarn 19 to a pigtail 20 carried by the face plate 21 at the first yarns own yarn plying station 22.

From the pig-tail 20, yarn 19 advances to the lower feed roll 23 projecting from the lower housing 24 to be wrapped back and forth several times between lower feed roll 23 and lower idler roll 25 also carried by the lower housing 24. After completing its final pass on lower feed roll 23 it passes partially about lower presser roll 26 held against feed roll 23 and thence to one side of the station 22 to pass through the eye of pigtail 16.

The operation of lower feed roll 23, lower idler roll 25 and lower presser roll 26 to advance the first yarn l9, 7

paratus which serves to draw the first yarn 19 from its supply and advance this yarn longitudinally of itself at a predetermined rate of speed.

From pigtail 16 yarn 19 advances upwardly at one side of the spindle 17 and toward the center of the frame to pigtail 14. From pigtail 14 yarn 19 advances to the eye of pigtail 15 positioned above the center of spindle 17 and thence downwardly to and through the eye in the end of freely rotatable flier 27, and through the eye fixed near its periphery in disk 28 carried by the spindle 17 to rotate therewith. From the eye of disk 28 yarn 19 passes into spindle 17 where it meets a second yarn, to be described, and is plied into two ply yarn at the plying point within the spindle 17.

The operation of fiier 27 and disk 28 to control the yarn 19 as it is rotated in a balloon past the supply of the second yarn is disclosed, and the apparatus and a method of operation is claimed, in copending United States patent application Serial No. 766,491, filed October 10, 1958, now abandoned; reference should be had to that application for a more detailed description of the structure and operation of this apparatus.

Each yarn plying station 22 includes a supply 29 of a second yarn 30. The supply of second yarn 29 is enclosed in pot 31 and pot cover 32, and this is carried on internal housing 33 which is supported on spindle 17 but held against rotation with spindle 17 by magnets 34 fixed to internal housing 33 which cooperate with magnets 35 carried by the lower housing 24.

The second yarn 39 is drawn from its supply 29 through a tensioner 36 and to the internal idler roll 38 where it is wrapped several times back and forth between the internal idler roll and internal feed roll 37. An internal presser roll 39 presses yarn 30 into frictional driving engagement with internal feed roll 37. From the rolls 37, 38, second yarn 3t] advances into spindle 17 and downwardly therein to meet the first yarn 19 at the plying point within spindle 17 where they are plied into a two ply yarn.

The thus formed two ply yarn 40 advances about idler pulley 41 and thence back to lower feed roll 23 to the capstan groove therein. Lower feed roll 23, lower idler roll 25 and lower presser roll 26 draw the two ply yarn 40 from the plying point as disclosed in detail in said United States patent application Serial No. 766,425, new Patent No. 3,05 8,681. From lower idler roll 25 the two ply yarn 40 advances to the eye of pigtail 42 carried on face plate 21.

Additional yarn 19", and two ply yarn 49'', are shown advancing to and returning from, respectively, a third yarn plying station (not shown), to indicate that the frame will normally have a great many y'arn plying spindles. Desirably there will be twenty-eight spindles on each side of a single frame.

The supply of the first yarn 19 is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing and, in this embodiment, is a multiple end beam 43 which includes the usual end flanges 44 and tube 45 on which is wound several yarns in side by side relation; conveniently there may be 112 yarns on a multiple end beam as this is enough to supply the first yarns 19 for all the spindles on two fifty-six spindle yarn plying frames. The multiple end beam 43 is mounted on a rod 46 extending through the usual hole in end flanges 44, and the ends of rod 46 rest in the V-notch of the top beam guides 47 fixed to the let-off beam creel 48 of the w arper 49. Each individual yarn 19 is drawn from the common supply multiple end beam 43 by the lower feed rolls 23 of their respective yarn plying stations 22. In advancing to the lower feed rolls 23, the yarns 19 first pass through an eye board 51 in the form of a warp-like sheet and then to a second eye board -1 from which they are distributed to appropriate eye guides in eye boards 52 mounted on section plate at the side of the yarn plying frame carrying the yarn plying station 22 for the yarns.

A second multiple end beam 53, similar to multiple end beam 43, is also mounted on the let-olf beam creel 43 of the warper 49 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The yarns 54, which are shown only in FIG. 1, advance from the beam 53 to single end package yarn winding stations (not shown) mounted on the yarn plying frame where they are wound into single end packages as disclosed in the aforesaid application Serial No. 766,492, now Patent No. 2,986,865. Neither the beam 53, the yarns 54 therefrom, nor the single end package winding station form any part of this invention, and they will not be further described or referred to herein.

The apparatus thus far described will produce a plurality of two ply yarns 4d, 40, 46'', etc., simultaneously, by a method in which each two ply yarn is produced by drawing a first yarn 19 from a multiple end supply beam 43, common to all of the other first yarns 19, 19, etc., for the other yarn plying stations. The first yarn 19 is advanced longitudinally of itself at a predetermined rate of speed by the lower feed roll 23 to its own yarn plying station 22 where it is rotated in a balloon by the disk 28 past a supply of second yarn 29 and advanced to the plying point within spindle 17. The second yarn 30 is advanced longitudinally of itself at the same rate of speed as the first yarn 19 by internal feed roll 37. At the plying point yarn 19 it is plied into a two ply yarn with the second yarn 3d.

The thus formed two ply yarn it) is drawn from the plying point and advanced longitudinally of itself at a predetermined rate of speed, less than the rate of advance of singles yarns 19 and 30 to accommodate the decrease in length thereof incident to the plying operation, by lower feed roll 23.

The apparatus next to be described will handle a plurality of the thus formed two ply yarns 4t), 4t), 40", etc., and wind them simultaneously on a multiple end take-up beam common to all of the thus produced two ply yarns.

Each two ply yarn 40 is drawn, as will become apparent hereinafter, to the side of the yarn plying frame and through its individual guide eye in the eye board 52. From the guide eye in eye board 52 the several two ply yarns are advanced, at substantially the same rate of speed to an eye board 55 which aligns them in a warp-like sheet and spaces each two ply yarn 40 a substantially equal distance from its two neighbors in such sheet. For clarity of illustration only four of the two ply yarns 40 are shown in FIG. 3; for the same purpose the warp-like sheet is shown in elevation in FIG. 1 as a single line, although it will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the description contained hereinafter that a complete side elevation would deviate slightly from this showing.

From the eye board 55 the two ply yarns :9 advance to a means for traversing all of the yarns in the warp-like sheet in unision back and forth a little distance, not greater than twice the spacing between two adjacent two ply yarns, transversely of the direction of the yarn advance (i.e. up and down of the sheet of drawing as seen in FIG. 3). In one specific embodiment the sheet is traversed a distance equal to a single spacing between two adjacent yarns. This means includes an individual guide eye 56 arranged to receive each said two ply yarn 40 while it is in the warp-like sheet. The guide eyes 56 for several adjacent two ply yarns are mounted in an eye board 57 of the expansion eye board 58, see FIG. 3.

The expansion eye board 58 includes a lazy tongs having a first series of end-to-end-connected links 59 on which are mounted the eye boards 57 containing the guide for all of the two ply yarns 40 in the warp-like sheet. The lazy tongs also has the usual second series of end-toend-connected links 60, and the successive links in either chain are pivotally connected to each other by pivot pins 61 connecting the end of one link to the adjacent end of the next link in the series; and the links of one series are pivotally connected at their mid-point by pivot pins 62 to the midpoint of the links of the other series.

The lazy tongs is carried by a frame including two plates 63 on which the links in the lazy tongs rest. The frame includes a rod 64 carried in struts connecting plates 63 and held against longitudinal movement relative thereto; rod 64 extends across the width of the warper between the plates 63. For a little distance along one end the rod 64 is screw-threaded with a left hand thread, and for a little distance along the other end it is screw-threaded with a light hand thread. A nut, constrained against rotation with the rod 64 upon rotation of the rod 64, by bearing faces on the nut in contact with the plate 63, is carried on the threaded portion at each end of the rod 64. Although these nuts are constrained against rotation with rod 64, the nuts are slida-ble longitudinally of rod 64 between the plates 63. The nut at one side of the warper is fastened to the lazy tongs at the pivot pin 62 connecting the two endmost links at that end of the lazy tongs, and the nut at the other end of the warper is connected to the lazy tongs at the pivot pin 62 connecting the two endmost links of the lazy tongs at that side of the warper. A hand knob 65 is fixed to one end of rod 64. Rotation of hand knob 65 will rotate rod 64 within the nuts carrying the lazy tongs, and depending upon the direction of rotation of hand knob 65, the lazy tongs will be expanded or contracted as the nuts are moved toward or away from each other along rod 64. Because the lazy tongs is disposed at right angles to the direction of advance of the yarn in the warp-like sheet, expansion or contraction of the lazy tongs will move the two ply yarns 4t) closer together as the lazy tongs is contracted and farther apart as the lazy tongs is expanded.

The frame supporting the lazy tongs is slidable in the side frames 66 of the warper. This frame at the end opposite hand knob 65 passes through a clamp 67 and is releasably attached thereto by a set screw at the end of hand knob 68. A cam follower carried by clamp 67 rides in the heart-shaped groove of a cam 69 which in turn is fixed to the output shaft of speed reducer 7%. Cam 6? is rotated by speed reducer 70 which is driven by a chain 71 trained on a sprocket carried by the input shaft of the speed reducer. Chain 71 is driven from a sprocket 93 carried on the shaft of rubber covered drum 72. Rotation of the cam 69 will move the cam follower on clamp 70 back and forth a little distance transversely of the direction of yarn advance through the eyes 56 of the eye board 57, and, since the cam follower is attached to the lazy tongs through the support frame including rod 64 fixed in plate 63, it will be apparent therefore that as the drum 7 2 rotates all the yarns in the warp-like sheet will be traversed in unison, transversely of the direction of yarn advance through the guides 56 a little distance which is selected to be not greater than twice the spacing between two adjacent two ply yarns.

Means are provided for adjusting the position of the cam follower relative to the support frame for the lazy tongs. This means includes a hand knob 73 fixed between the plates 63 at one end thereof. At its inner end hand knob 73 carries a threaded shaft that is threaded in a block atfixed to the clamp 67. To adjust the position of the lazy tongs transversely of the warper, hand knob 63 is loosened, hand knob 73 is turned to move plate 63 in one direction or the other relative to clamp 67 until the desired position of the lazytongs is achieved, whereupon hand knob 68 is again tightened.

From the lazy tongs the two ply yarns advance to a rod 74, which may be a roller rotatably mounted on bearings carried by stub shafts affixed to the side frames 66 of the warper. The rod 74, as best appears from FIG. 1, is arranged so that the two ply yarns as they pass from the lazy tongs traversing means to the take-up are bent and their direction of advance is changed. From rod 74 the two ply yarns 4%) advance to the tube 77 of a driven takeup beam common to all of the two ply yarns in the warplike sheet.

The multiple end take-up beam 75 is shown in its position prior to loading into the warper in dot dash lines in FIG. 1 and in the loaded position in the warper in solid lines in the same figure; The multiple end take-up beam 75 has the usual end flanges 76 and cylindrical tube 77 on which the yarns are adapted to be wound. Each warper side plate 66 has an inclined plate 7 8 which slopes upwardly and toward the loaded position of the beam on the =warper and terminates in a horizontal plate 79. Plate 79 extends from the upper end of the inclined plate 78 to and beyond the position occupied by the axle of the beam 75 when that beam is in its operative position in the warper. Horizontal plate 79 is spaced from the floor a distance greater than the distance from the lower edge of an axle which is to be inserted through the usual cen tral holes in the flanges of the beam to the lower periphcry of these flanges. A rod 80 which forms an axle about which beam 75 rotates is inserted through the central holes in the end flanges of beam 75.

The warper carries a rotatable drum 72 having a cylindrical outer surface adapted to fit between the end flanges 76 of the beam 75 and to bear against the tube 77, or yarns wound thereon, in frictional driving engagement with the beam 75. Drum 72 is driven by means of a chain 81 driving a sprocket 82 fixed to the shaft of drum 72. Chain 81 (see FIG. 3) is driven from the output sprocket 83 of speed changer 84- whioh in turn is driven by the belt 35, pulley 86 on the speed changer and pulley 87 on the output shaft of motor 83.

An air cylinder 89 containing a piston to which is attached a piston rod 90 is fixed to clevis 91 at each side of the Warper adjacent each end of the rotatable drum 72. Each piston rod 90 carries a yoke 92 at its end which is adapted to receive the rod 80 forming an axle for the beam 75. Cylinder 89 and its piston, piston rod 90, and yoke 92 are constructed and arranged so that in the extended position of piston rod 9%) yoke 92 will tit over the end of rod 80 when drum 75 is in the unloaded position shown in dot dash lines in FIG. 1. Actuation of cylinder 89 and its piston then draws rod 89 against inclined plates 78, Whose lower ends terminate below the level of the axle in drum 75 when the flanges of drum 75 rest on the floor, to pull rod 80' up the plate 78 and on to the horizontal plate 79, and yieldingly to urge the tube 77 of beam 75 against the cylindrical outer surface of drum 72 under the air pressure in the cylinders 89.

In the embodiment shown, the two ply yarns 4t) in advancing from the eye board 55 to the lazy tongs traverse passes between the rolls 94 and d5 of a snubbing device. These rolls 94, 95 extend across the entire width of the warp-like sheet and are spaced a substantial distance apart so that in the normal operating position, shown in FIG. 1, the warp-like sheet passes freely between these rolls. Roll 94 is suspended from roll 95 by pins 96, and roll 95 carries a crank arm 97 having a handle 98 at one end thereof. Upon rotation of shaft 95 (counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 1) to a position such that a pin 99 at the end of handle 98 can be inserted in a hole 16% in the side plate 66 of the warper, the two ply yarns 40 in the warp-like sheet are snubbed around the rubber covered roll )5 to be held in the Warper while a full beam 75 is being replaced by an empty bearm.

Rotation of the drum 72 rotates the take-up beam 75 and draws the two ply yarns from their several respective lower feed rolls 23. At the same time rotation, of cam 69 traverses all the yarns in the warp-like sheets in unison back and forth a little distance on the rod 74, and consequently on the beam 75. Consequently all of the two ply yarns are wound on a beam 75 which, when full, may be transferred directly to a loom to weave tire cord fabric.

Using the apparatus heretofore described all of the yarns from the multiple end beam 43 may be advanced therefrom, plied into two ply yarn, and returned to a multiple end beam 75. The use of this apparatus affords great savings not only in the yarn plying frame itself by eliminating costly duplication of individual winders, but

it also affords substantial labor saving in that the multiple end beams are adapted to be handled by mechanical means in creeling the yarn plying frame. Further there is substantial improvement afforded in that the yarns formed on the frames as they are dofl'ed from the warper are disposed on a multiple end beam which is ready for use at the loom.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a process of producing a plurality of ply yarns simultaneously wherein each ply yarn is produced by a method wherein a first yarn is advanced longitudinally of itself at a predetermined rate of speed past a supply of a second yarn and to a plying point, and at the same time the second yarn is advanced from said supply at said predetermined rate of speed to said plying point, and said first and second yarns are plied into ply yarn at said plying point; the steps which comprise drawing a plurality of yarns simultaneously from a common supply, advancing each said yarn to its own plying station where, as said first yarn, it is advanced and plied into ply yarn by said method with a second yarn from a supply disposed at said station, advancing each of the ply yarns produced from said plurality of yarns from its plying point to a take-up common to the ply yarns produced from the others of said plurality of yarns, and taking up all said ply yarns simultaneously.

2. In a process of producing a plurality of ply yarns simultaneously wherein each ply yarn is produced by a method wherein a first yarn is advanced longitudinally of itself at a predetermined rate of speed past, and rotated in a balloon about, a supply of a second yarn supported on a rotating spindle but held against rotation with the spindle and to a plying point within said spindle, and at the same time the second yarn is advanced from said supply at said predetermined rate of speed to said plying point, and said first and second yarns are plied into ply yarn at said plying point; the steps which comprise drawing a plurality of yarns simultaneously from a common supply, advancing each said yarn to its own plying station where, as said first yarn, it is advanced and plied into ply yarn by said method with a second yarn from a supply disposed at said station, advancing each of the ply yarns produced from said plurality of yarns from its plying point to a take-up tube common to the ply yarns produced from the others of said plurality of yarns, and windineg all said ply yarns on said tube simultaneously.

3. Apparatus for producing a plurality of ply yarns simultaneously which comprises a common supply for a plurality of yarns, a plurality of yarn plying stations, each said station including means to support a supply of yarn and means for advancing yarn from the supply at a predetermined rate of speed and to the stations plying point, means for drawing each of the yarns from said common supply longitudinally of itself at said predetermined rate of speed and for advancing it to one of said plying stations and past the supply of yarn thereat and to the plying point of the station, means for plying the two yarns advancing toward each said plying point into ply yarn thereat, means for advancing each of said plied yarns from their respective plying points to a common take-up, and means for taking up all said plied yarns simultaneously.

4. Apparatus for producing a plurality of ply yarns simultaneously which comprises a multiple end beam containing a plurality of yarns in side by side relation, a plurality of yarn plying stations, each said station including means to support a supply of yarn and means for advancing the yarn from the supply at a predetermined rate of speed and to the stations plying point, means for drawing each of the yarns from said beam longitudinally of itself at said predetermined rate of speed and for advancing it to one of said plying stations and past the :supply of yarn thereat and to the plying point of the station, means for plying the two yarns advancing toward each said plying point into ply yarn thereat, means for advancing each of said plied yarns from their respective plying points to a multiple end take-up beam, and means for Winding all said plied yarns on said take-up beam simultaneously.

5. Apparatus for producing a plurality of ply yarns simultaneously which comprises a multiple end beam containing a plurality of yarns in side by side relation, a plurality of yarn plying stations, each said station including means to support a supply of yarn and means for advancing yarn from the supply at a predetermined rate of speed and to the stations plying point, means for drawing each of the yarns from said beam longitudinally of itself at said predetermined rate of speed and for advanc ing it to one of said plying stations and past the supply of yarns thereat and to the plying point of the station, means for plying the two yarns advancing toward each said plying point into ply yarns thereat, a multiple end take-up beam rotatable on an axle, means for advancing each of said plied yarns from their respective plying points to said multiple end take-up beam, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface against which the tube of said take-up beam is urged toward frictional driving engagement, and means rotating said drum to thereby rotate said take-up beam to Wind all said plied yarns thereon simultaneously.

6. Apparatus for producing a plurality of ply yarns simultaneously which comprises a multiple end beam containing a plurality of yarns in side by side relation, a plurality of yarn plying stations, each said station including means to support a supply of yarn and means for advancing y arn from the supply at a predetermined rate of speed and to the stations plying point, means for drawing each of the yarns from said beam longitudinally of itsclf at said predetermined rate of speed and for advancing it to one of said plying stations and past the supply of yarns thereat and to the plying point of the station, means for plying the two yarns advancing toward each said plying point into ply yarns thereat, a multiple end take-up beam rotatable on an axle, means for advancing each of said plied yarns from their respective plying points to said multiple end take-up beam, means for aligning all said ply yarns in a warp-like sheet between said plying points and said takemp beam, means for traversing all the yarns in said warp-like sheet in unison back and forth a little distance transversely of the direction of yarn advance to traverse said yarns on said take-up beam, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface against which the tube of said beam is urged toward frictional driving engagement, and means rotating said drum to thereby rotate said take-up beam to wind all said plied yarns thereon simultaneously.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 in which said traversing means comprises a separate guide for each said ply yarn arranged to receive it while in said warplilce sheet, means mounting the guides for all said yarns on a common support, and means for so traversing the yarns in said warp-like sheet by moving said common support.

8. Apparatus for handling a plurality of yarns received from rotating yarn plying spindles adapted to turn said yarns about their longitudinal axes, comprising means for advancing a yarn to be plied through each said spindle at a predetermined rate of speed, means at each said spindle for advancing the ply yarn formed thereat at a predetermined rate of speed, means for drawing said ply yarns from said yarn plying spindles and aligning them in a warp-like sheet, an individual guide for each said ply yarn arranged to receive it while it is in said Warp- Iike sheet, means mounting the guides for all said ply yarns for movement in unison transversely of the direction of ply yarn advance therethrough, means for traversing said mounting means back and forth a little distance in such transverse direction to so traverse said warp-like sheet, a driven take-up tube, and means for winding all said ply yarns on said take-up tube simultaneously in side by side relation.

9. Apparatus for handling a plurality of yarns received from rotating yarn plying spindles adapted to turn said yarns about their longitudinal axes, comprising means for advancing a yarn to be plied through each said spindle at a predetermined rate of speed, means at each said spindle for advancing the ply yarn formed thereat at a predetermined rate of speed, means for drawing said ply yarns from said yarn plying spindles and aligning and equally spacing them in a warp-like sheet, a guide for each said ply yarn arranged to receive it while it is in said warp-like sheet, means mounting the guides for all said ply yarns for movement in unison transversely of the direction of ply yarn advance therethrough, means for traversing said mounting means back and forth a distance in such transverse direction not greater than twice the spacing between two adjacent ply yarns to so traverse said warp-like sheet, a driven take-up tube, and means for winding all said ply yarns on said take-up tube simultaneously in side by side relation.

10. Apparatus for handling a plurality of yarns received from individual yarn plying stations, comprising means for advancing a yarn to be plied through each said station at a predetermined rate of speed, means at each said station for advancing the ply yarn formed thereat at a predetermined rate of speed, means for drawing said ply yarns from said yarn plying stations and aligning them in a warp-like sheet, a guide for each said ply yarn arranged to receive it while it is in said warp-like sheet, means mounting the guides for all said ply yarns for movement in unison transversely of the direction of ply yarn advance therethrough, means for traversing said mounting means back and forth a little distance in such transverse direction to so traverse said warp-like sheet, a rod disposed transversely of said warp-like sheet and arranged so the ply yarns as they pass from said traversing means to a take-up are bent and their direction of advance is changed, a driven take-up tube, and means for winding all said ply yarns on said take-up tube simultaneously in side by side relation.

11. Apparatus for handling a plurality of yarns received from individual yarn plying stations, comprising means for advancing a yarn to be plied through each said station at a predetermined rate of speed, means at each said station for advancing the ply yarn formed thereat at a predetermined rate of speed, means for drawing said ply yarns from said yarn ply-ing stations and aligning them in a warp-like sheet, a guide for each said ply yarn arranged to receive it while it is in said warp-like sheet, means mounting the guides for all said ply yarns for movement in unison transversely of the direction of ply yarn advance therethrough, means for traversing said mounting means back and forth a little distance in such transverse direction to so traverse said warp-like sheet, a rod disposed transversely of said warp-like sheet and arranged so the ply yarns as they pass from said traversing means to a take-up are bent so their direction of advance is changed, a driven multiple end take-up beam rotatable on an axle, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface against which the tube of said beam is urged in frictional driving engagement, and means rotating said drum to thereby rotate said take-up beam on said axle to wind all said ply yarns on said take-up beam simultaneously in side by side relation.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which said traversing means includes a cam follower attached to said guide mounting means, a heart-shaped cam moving said cam follower, and means for rotating said cam.

=13. Apparatus for handling a plurality of yarns received from individual yarn forming stations, comprising means for drawing said yarns from said yarn forming stations and aligning them in a warp-like sheet, a guide for each said yarn arranged to receive it while it is in said warp-like sheet, means mounting the guides for all said yarns for movement in unison transversely of the direction of yarn advance therethrough, said guide mounting means including a lazy tongs, means mounting said guides on one series of end-to-end-connected links of the lazy tongs, adjustable means for expanding and contracting said lazy tongs to thereby selectively increase or decrease the spacing between the yarns in said guides, means for traversing said mounting means back and forth a little distance in such transverse direction to so traverse said warplike sheet, said traversing means including a cam follower attached to said guide mounting means, a heart-shaped cam moving said cam follower, means for rotating said cam, a driven multiple end take-up beam rotatable on an axle, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface against which the tube of said beam is urged in frictional driving engagement, means rotating said drum to thereby rotate said take up beam on said axle to wind all said yarns on said take -up beam simultaneously in side by side relation.

14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 in which the guide mounting means includes support means for said lazy tongs, the cam follower being attached to said guide mounting means through said support means, and means for adjusting the position of said cam follower relative to said support means and in a direction transverse to the direction of advance of the yarns in said warp-like sheet.

15. Apparatus for handling a plurality of yarns received from individual yarn forming stations, comprising means for drawing said yarns from said yarn forming stations and aligning them in a warp-like sheet, a guide for each said yarns arranged to receive it while it is in said warp-alike sheet, means mounting the guides for all said yarns for movement in unison transversely of the direction of yarn advanced therethrough, means for traversing said mounting means back and forth a little distance in such transverse direction to so traverse said warp-like sheet, a rod disposed transversely of said warplike sheet and arranged so the yarns as they pass from said traversing means to a take-up are bent and their direction of advance is changed, a driven multiple end take-up beam rotatable on an axle, a rotatable drum having a cylindrical surface, a cylinder containing a piston and a piston rod mounted adjacent each end of said rotatable drum, a yoke on the end of each piston rod adapted to receive the axle for said take-up beam, said cylinders being constructed and arranged so fluid pressure exerted on said pistons urges said axle and the tube of said beam in frictional driving engagement with said drum, and means for rotating said drum to thereby rotate said take up beam on said axle to wind all said yarns on said take up beam simultaneously in side by side relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 313,124 Straw Mar. 3, 1885 1,030,937 Spink et al. July 2, 1912 1,067,574 Allen July 15, 1913 1,378,257 Malone'y May 17, 1921 1,586,767 Abbott June 1, 1926 2,033,738 Reiners et al. Mar. 10, 1936 2,066,888 Kahlisch Ian. 5, '1937 2,729,051 Clarkson Jan. 3, 1956 2,730,859 Gatling Ian. 17, 1956 2,956,328 Faw Oct. 18, 1960 2,972,796 Block Feb. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 826,854- Germany Jan. 7, 1952 168,359 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1921 334,593 Switzerland Jan. 31, 1959 

1. IN A PROCESS OF PRODUCING A PLURALITY OF PLY YARNS SIMULTANEOULSY WHEREIN EACH PLY YARN IS PRODUCED BY A METHOD WHEREIN A FIRST YARN IS ADVANCED LONGITUDINALLY OF ITSELF AT A PREDETERMINED RATE OF SPEED PAST A SUPPLY OF A SECOND YARN AND TO A PLYING POINT, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE SECOND YARN IS ADVANCED FROM SAID SUPPLY AT SAID PREDETERMINED RATE OF SPEED TO SAID PLYING POINT, AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND YARNS ARE PLIED INTO PLY YARN AT SAID PLYING POINT; THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE DRAWING A PLURALITY OF YARNS SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM A COMMON SUPPLY, ADVANCING EACH SAID YARN TO ITS OWN PLYING STATION WHERE, AS SAID FIRST YARN, IT IS ADVANCED AND PLIED INTO PLY YARN BY SAID METHOD WITH A SECOND YARN FROM A SUPPLY DISPOSED AT SAID STATION, ADVANCING EACH OF THE PLY YARNS PRODUCE FROM SAID PLURALITY OF YARNS FROM ITS PLYING POINT TO A TAKE-UP COMMON TO THE PLY YARNS PRODUCED FROM THE OTHERS OF SAID PLURALITY OF YARNS, AND TAKING UP ALL SAID PLY YARNS SIMULTANEOULY. 